LABOUR MEP JOINS TORIES

The Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Atkins MEP (North West) today welcomed the defection to the Conservatives of the longest-serving UK MEP, Richard Balfe.

"Richard is a senior and distinguished Member, rooted in the Labour Party for his whole political life," commented Sir Robert. "It is a measure of the sorry state of his former party that he has felt constrained to cross the floor to join a Conservative Party which believes in tolerance of differing views."